Rolls-Royce Power Systems, the Germany-based business unit of UK-based global major power and propulsion systems group Rolls-Royce, has entered into an agreement to cooperate with German specialist renewable energy projects company SOWITEC, to create ‘Power-to-X’ projects which will have a total electrolysis capacity of up to 500 MW, by 2028. Power-to-X means converting power into something else, such as, in this case, hydrogen.

The plants to be developed by the two partners will use renewable energy to power mtu-brand electrolysers, which then will, in turn, produce green hydrogen. This green hydrogen could then be used for fuel cells or to directly fuel hydrogen engines. Both forms of power units could be used across a wide spectrum of applications, including agriculture, aviation, data centres, mining and shipping. They could also be used to produce industrial feedstocks, as well as other sustainable ‘e-fuels’.

“With this project, we are actively working to reduce greenhouse gases in industry,” highlighted Rolls-Royce Power Systems Sustainable Power Solutions president Andreas Görtz. “We are convinced that with our new sustainable mtu technologies and through cooperation with SOWITEC, we can successfully drive the expansion of Power-to-X plants.”

Rolls-Royce has already developed a range of new green energy technologies. These include mtu-branded electrolysers, fuel cells and hydrogen engines. Further, the group has developed experience with hydrogen ‘ecosystems’ as well as in the design, simulation and optimisation of decentralised energy supply systems.

SOWITEC, which is based in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany, has been active in the renewable energy project sector for nearly 30 years. It has installed more than 4.2 GW of solar and wind power capacity across Asia, Europe and South America. Its experience includes the development of financeable turnkey renewable energy projects, all the way from conception to completion, including the sourcing of investors.

“We have already been working on Power-to-X plants since 2017,” pointed out SOWITEC group CEO Frank Hummel. “In Rolls-Royce Power Systems, with its innovative products and global sales and service network, we see a competent partner to jointly deliver integrated green hydrogen ecosystems from a single source. We are pursuing the vision of a global energy supply based on renewable energies and providing access to clean and affordable energy for all people and are developing competitive projects accordingly.”